Middle School Music Teacher

Who We Are:

School in the Square (S2) is a fast-growing charter school currently serving elementary and middle school students, with plans to serve families from Pre-K - 12 with the opening of a high school with 9th grade in Fall, 2023. S2 engages, educates and empowers its students to respond mindfully and creatively to life’s opportunities and challenges. Drawing its name from the concept of the public square or “la placita”, our mantra is “Relationships First”. S2 is where communities come together to solve problems and celebrate successes. Here, students, families and educators are seen, heard, and inspired. S2 students build the academic foundations, social-emotional intelligence, and the leadership skills necessary to excel in college and professional life. Our community is grounded in principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusivity (JEDI), enacting a culturally responsive and sustaining lens to our pedagogical practice and consistently examining the ways we can continue to walk firmly in the pursuit of social justice and against injustice of any kind. S2 provides a progressive and rigorous learning community in which students thrive physically, emotionally, and academically through differentiated and personalized education and adults grow through rich and robust professional development. 

We take seriously our obligation as an anchor institution in our community. We understand that our students’ ability to learn is directly impacted by their access to basic needs. Through our Family Support Program, we support over 200 families every month with bimonthly food pantries and other essential services, including internet hotspots and rent relief.

Our Middle School School:

We believe a culture of care leads to a culture of achievement. Our program is dedicated to providing each student with the tools and support to become lifelong learners. That includes embracing that 89% of S2 families are Hispanic or Latinx. 

Our Music Teacher:

We are looking for a dedicated, mission-aligned Music Teacher who both loves and respects our children. Reporting to our Principal and in collaboration with a diverse and committed School Leadership Team (SLT), you will support our efforts to deliver rigorous and engaging music instruction research-based on effective bilingual teaching strategies while also focusing on the social-emotional needs of all students. If you have a deep belief that all students can thrive in a challenging, high-quality, nurturing and supportive learning environment, we would love to hear from you.

Who You Are:

• Skilled in current teaching methods and educational pedagogy including but not limited to:
• Experience using with grade/developmental expectations for NYS Arts Standards 
• Interactive, hands on, creative learning
• Use of technology to support instruction in all areas
• Use of assessment to drive instruction
• Differentiation of curriculum to meet the needs of diverse learners
• Knowledge of co-teaching strategies 
• A visionary educator, excited to launch our elementary music program by:
• Crafting the school’s bilingual elementary music curriculum, in cooperation with the leadership team 
• Teaching early childhood students music and other cross-curricular concepts through singing and movement
• Leading the build-out of an instrumental program for the upper elementary grades to launch in the 2023-24 school year
• Producing two school-wide musical performances each year
• A strategic, solutions-focused thinker with strong communication and planning skills.
• A strong relationship builder, you get personal fulfillment by teaching and coaching students in both academic and non-instructional situations, respecting and encouraging student effort. 
• Familiar with restorative practices, a strong believer in anti racism education, culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy, trauma informed practices
• Self-reflective with the capacity to accept and implement feedback to improve instruction
• A graduate of a Bachelor’s Degree in Education program in relevant content area and possesses a valid New York State Teaching Certification in Music (Pre-k - 12 All Grades) preferred; NYS teaching certification accepted. (Advanced methodology training is a plus.). 
• Experienced as a full-time effective, impactful classroom teacher with a minimum of three years in an elementary school. Experience in an urban charter school setting is preferred 
• Fluent in Spanish (preferred).

What You Can Expect From Us:

At S2 we take as much care of our staff as we do of our students. S2 is committed to supporting our leaders by helping them build sustainable, rewarding careers that center on each educator’s passions and multi-disciplinary interests. All of our faculty and staff are valued professionals and we are proud to provide extended planning time, team-building and collaboration, comfortable and friendly working conditions, and more to ensure our team members all have the tools they need to succeed.

In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, S2 provides ultra competitive salaries, an excellent benefits package with a 401K program with a 6% organizational match, longevity bonus, generous paid time off, access to a federal student loan debt reduction program and a friendly work environment. 

School in the Square understands specific groups are subject to marginalization. We believe these powerful groups should be centered in our community and are highly encouraged to apply. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.